emblem, and we accordingly find it figured on monuments in
connexion with Athena or [p. 1.331]Minerva, who taught women
the art of weaving; of Demeter or Ceres, the goddess of harvests; of Tellus
and other divinities, as an emblem of abundance. It was carried in honour of
Demeter at the Eleusinian festival (Callim. in Cer. 1), and
is so represented in a bronze medal of Trajan figured above. It was
frequently placed on the heads of divinities, especially of Demeter, in
ancient statues, and in this use is called modius or bushel by archaeologists. It was probably carried on
the heads of women or young girls in processions, whence it gave rise to the
capital supported by a female figure in place of a column. [CARYATIDES] Figures of
priestesses, from ancient monuments, wearing the calathus, are given by
Saglio (Dict. s. v.) In particular the god Serapis in the
time of the Roman empire is represented with a calathus on his head
(calathum